Franz Yakovlevich Lefort (French François Le Fort, German Franz Jakob Lefort, December 23, 1655 [January 2, 1656], Geneva - March 2 [12], 1699, Moscow) - Russian statesman and military leader, general-admiral, associate of Peter I …
Franz Yakovlevich Lefort was born in 1656 in Geneva into the family of the merchant Jacques Lefort (1618-1674). Until the age of 14, he studied at the Geneva Collegium (that is, a high school in which some of the subjects of a higher education institution were taught), and then was sent to Marseille to study trade. However, this occupation was not to the liking of the young man. Tall, handsome, endowed with remarkable physical strength, the young man dreamed of military service and acquaintance with the greats of this world. His inherent intelligence, cheerful disposition, courage and enterprise contributed to the implementation of his ambitious plans.
In 1674, against the wishes of his family, Lefort left for Holland and began his military career in the retinue of the Duke of Courland, Friedrich-Casimir. However, soon, on the advice of the Dutch colonel van Frostin, the young ambitious man decided to try his luck in military service in distant Muscovy. Arriving in the Russian capital with the rank of captain, he settled in Moscow, in the German settlement. In the future, his fate was such that he firmly settled in Russia, learned Russian, married the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Suge Elizaveta. In the absence of major military operations, Lefort served for some time as the secretary of the Danish resident (diplomat). But from the end of 1678, he was appointed a company commander as part of the Kiev garrison. He served in Kiev for two and a half years, participated in military campaigns and clashes with the Crimean Tatars, more than once exposed to danger. Zhenevets was taken under his patronage by Sophia's favorite, Prince V. V. Golitsyn, known for his passion for European culture. In 1683, Lefort was twice promoted in service: first promoted to major, and then to lieutenant colonel. In 1687 and 1689, Golitsyn undertook two unsuccessful campaigns against the Crimea. Lefort was always with him, who after the first campaign was promoted to colonel and received an award. The second Crimean campaign was completed in the midst of the struggle between Peter and Sophia. In early August 1689, the young tsar, fearing deposition and arrest, rode off to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. On September 4, along with his relative, General Patrick Gordon, Lefort came to the monastery, and from now on his fate was inextricably linked with the activities of the young autocrat. The friendship of Tsar Peter with Gordon and Lefort met with opposition from Patriarch Joachim, the guardian of old Moscow customs, who strongly objected to such friendship with foreigners - "godless heretics." After the death of the patriarch in 1690, Peter began to openly visit the German settlement, where he visited first at Gordon, and then increasingly at Lefort.
Naturally, Lefort received various signs of friendship and favor from the king. In 1690, on the occasion of the birth of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, he was awarded the rank of Major General. Lefort's compatriot, Captain Senebier, wrote: “At court they only talk about his Majesty and Lefort. They are inseparable … As long as Moscow remains Moscow, there was no foreigner in it who would use such power. He would have acquired a great fortune if he had not been so generous. It is, of course, true that thanks to this quality he reached such a high level. His Majesty gives him significant gifts. " After the capture of Azov, Lefort received the title of Novgorod governor, estates in Epifan and Ryazan districts, a gold medal and a sable fur coat. The idea of organizing a "Great Embassy" may have been suggested to the tsar by Lefort. Formally, he headed it,but in fact the entire leadership was in the hands of the experienced diplomat F. A. Golovin. The role of Lefort was purely representative and was reduced mainly to the translation of the tsar's speeches.
Together with the liar, he returns in August 1698 from the Great Embassy. Refused to cut off the heads of the archers - the rebels.
On February 12, 1699, a housewarming was celebrated with the participation of three hundred guests, on February 23 Lefort fell ill with a fever, and on March 12, 1699 (March 2 according to the old style) he died. A magnificent funeral was arranged for the sovereign's faithful companion. There is evidence that Peter wanted to erect a monument to him in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St. Petersburg (as well as to his other confidants). But this intention was not realized, and later the grave of Lefort itself was lost.
There is a street in Geneva (what an honor!), And in Kaliningrad (?) There is a boulevard named after Franz Lefort. In Moscow - the whole Lefortovo district, around the Lefortovo Palace.